Asian markets see fluctuating course on Friday

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) – Major Asian indices closed Friday with mixed figures, while Chinese and Hong Kong markets were closed due to the Lunar New Year.

The hawkish messages from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England on monetary policies on Thursday were effective on the fluctuating course in the indices.

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda pledged to maintain ultra-loose monetary policy against the hawkish stance.

Japan's agricultural and seafood exports in 2021 reached a historical high for the ninth consecutive year, surpassing $8.7 billion for the first time, according to official data released on Friday.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, earned 37.22 points, or 1.01%, to close at around 3,732 points.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock exchange was up 198.68 points, or 0.73%, to 27,439 points.

The Singapore index saw an increase, up 15.42 points, or 0.47%, to reach 3,331 points.

Only the Indian Sensex benchmark posted a decrease of 152.71 points, or 0.26%, to close at 58,635 points.

- European markets

Major European indices posted mixed figures as of midday.

The STOXX Europe 600, which includes around 90% of the market capitalization of the European market in 17 countries, was down 1.08 points, or 0.23%, to reach 467.55 points as of 1000GMT.

London's FTSE 100 increased 40.63 points, or 0.54%, to stand at 7,569 points, and Germany's DAX index reached 15,283 points, down 85.25 points or 0.55%.

The French CAC 40 earned 2.07 points, or 0.03%, to stand at 7,007 points, while Italy's FTSE MIB posted a decrease of 212.26 points, or 0.78%, to reach 26,876 points.

Spain's IBEX 35 also dropped 4.4 points, or 0.05%, to 8,685 points.